'My films will not be mindless Catching up with Farhan Akhtar post Dil Chahta Hai.

He is young. He is restless. He believes in doing things his way.

That's Farhan Akhtar for you.

With his directorial debut, Dil Chahta Hai , Farhan established he is a chip of the Javed Akhtar-Honey Irani block.

Currently, he is giving his creative inputs to mom Honey and sister Zoya, who are making their entry in film direction.

Farhan takes time out to reflect on life after Dil Chahta Hai with Lata Khubchandani.

On Aamir Khan, post-Oscars and Dil Chahta Hai:

As an actor there’s very little I can say that everyone doesn’t already know. He is incredibly talented.

The amount of research he does to know his character before the shooting -- about how he wants to play it, the director's version -- shows that he is extremely involved in every department of his role.

He doesn’t leave anything for the last minute. He is extremely clear in his mind as to what kind of person (character) he is going to be over the next three and a half months. That’s him as an actor.

I had offered him Akshaye's role. I wanted to work with these three guys. I was clear I wanted Saif for the part he played. I couldn’t picture anyone else in the role. I wanted to work with Aamir because I am a fan of his. So when I narrated the script to him, I offered him the role of Sids.

I thought he would be more interested in the part of Sids but he chose Akash. I had no problem with that.

On Saif Ali Khan winning all the awards:

Saif put in a lot of effort and research and deserves what he has got. He is reaping the rewards of his own effort. I am happy for him.

It is always very exciting and encouraging when your work is recognized. One award I was most happy about is Filmfare's Critics award for Best Film because that takes in all our work. It went to the entire cast and crew and the producer (Ritesh Sidhwani) who unfortunately hasn’t got recognition for his first superb production. He has been an amazing producer.

On being nervous about his next project:

Not really! I will do only what I want to. If a person feels that way and goes with his instinct, there nothing to be scared of.

I intend to start my new film next year. I will start pre-production in the next couple of months.

On working with dad Javed Akhtar in his upcoming project:

The story is written by him. After DCH, I was a bit confused about what I should do next. I was toying around with a few subjects. One day, he (Javed Akhtar) narrated this story to me. The minute he narrated it, I was convinced beyond any doubt that I wanted to make it.

On helping out mom scriptwriter-turned-director Honey Irani:

I help her as much as I can. But I am not forcing myself on her. Whenever she wants my opinion, I sit with her. We read her script together. If she wants to know my opinion, I give it. If something bothers me about it, I tell her that too. It’s her first film and I want to be as involved in it as she was in mine.

If I wanted a second opinion on anything I would ask her, my sister Zoya and dad. If I wanted an unbiased opinion, I would ask her. You know only someone who loves you tells you the truth otherwise everyone throws their two bits of opinions in. When people understand you, they allow themselves to be used as bouncing boards.

On sister--Zoya taking to direction:

She has finished writing the script and is currently in the process of casting.

Mum's film is going on the floors mid-year while I start early next year.

On his favourite films of 2001:

Apart from Lagaan, I liked Chandini Bar very much.

On the kind of film he would like to make:

I should ask you that. After seeing Dil Chahta Hai, what kind of film do you think I should make?

Dil Chahta Hai was a film that got inside the young mind so one felt it was worthwhile. Even when we were laughing, we knew these issues were true.

On more Dil Chahta Hai's:

I have a take on films like Aamir Khan. If one is tackling a certain genre or subject, it should be given complete justice.

It’s very dangerous. There are two sides to the business -- the creative and the fiscal. There needs to be a balance struck between the two. If a situation demands that you compromise fiscally, it’s okay. But the moment you start compromising creatively to gain fiscally, it’s dangerous.

I want to continue making sensible films, where audiences have something to think about, however small.

I don’t want to entertain, just for the sake of it. I want to leave a residue in people's mind. To affect some part of what they think about life or the subject I am talking about. I want to affect the way they think at some level. My films will not be mindless.